and in the general peace and concord, and in the extirpation of every schism; and receive, with the greatest honor and the most fervent love, Alexander, our fellow-minister and your bishop, who imparted joy to us by his presence, and who, at a very advanced period of life, has undergone so much fatigue for the purpose of restoring peace among you. Pray for us all, that what we have equitably decreed, may remain steadfast, through our Lord Jesus Christ, being done, as we trust, according to the good-will of God and the Father in the Holy Ghost, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
EPISTLE OF THE EMPEROR TO THOSE BISHOPS WHO WERE NOT PRESENT.[1]
"Constantine Augustus to the churches.
"Viewing the common prosperity enjoyed at this moment as the result of the great power of divine grace, I am desirous that the blessed members of the Catholic Church should be preserved in one faith, in sincere love, and in one form of religion, towards Almighty God.
"But, because no firmer or more effective measure could be adopted to secure this end, than that of submitting each holy mode of worship to the examination of all, or most of all, the bishops, I convened as many of them as possible, and took my seat among them as one of yourselves; for I will not deny that truth which is the source of the greatest joy to me, namely that I am your fellow-servant. Every doubtful point obtained a careful investigation, until doctrines pleasing to God and conductive to unity were fully established, so that
- ↑ From Theodoret, Bohn's new edition.
